Pages

January 19, 2014

The Hand of the Cause Tarázu'lláh Samandarí undertook his
pilgrimage to the Holy Land when he was a youth. It took place during the last
months of Bahá'u'lláh's life. He had the privilege of accompanying
Bahá’u’lláh on visits to the Garden of Ridván (near Akka), and was present at
the time of Bahá’u’lláh's ascension. Here is a portion of his recollections:

Twice I had the honour of being present in His room during
the revelation of the Holy Verses. No one was there except His secretary, Mirzá
Áqá Ján, and another time, Mirzá Badi’u’lláh[one of Bahá’u’lláh's sons] was
there copying Tablets. On these two precious occasions, as the Essence of Glory
and Dignity [Bahá’u’lláh] paced the room and chanted verses, I could gaze upon
Him and contemplate His luminous face, and behold the vision of the majesty of
God and His divine Kingdom. This was indeed a great blessing. As He revealed
the verses of God, His face was radiant. Sometimes, He would gesture with His
hands while He looked through the window onto the sea.

It was His custom to drink water while revealing the verses
when His lips became dry. Mirzá Áqá Ján was occupied in taking down the
revealed words. The floor of the room was covered with papers from the
dictation. One might guess that they amounted to about one-fifth of the Qur’án,
revealed during those few hours.

The verses were revealed sometimes in a melodious voice, and
sometimes with majesty and power - depending
on the content of the revealed words. For instance, when the subject was prayer,
a heavenly melody was heard; while admonitions and words of warning were
uttered with the power of the Lord of lords!

Bahá’u’lláh Himself tells us that day and night the verses descended
like torrential rain. From this, whoever is mindful will ask: What can He mean,
that the verses descended like torrential rain? This means, without thought.
This means, without deliberation. This means that, first the revelation comes
down - and only then is it read
. . .

The rule always was that when the letters came in from the
friends, Khádim [Mirzá Aqá Ján] would be directed by Bahá’u’lláh to read Him
the letters. Then, at Bahá’u’lláh's direction, he would make ready paper and
pen, and an answer would be vouchsafed. To one after the other, upon each of
those who had written, He would bestow an answer.

As to this question of revelation, I am unable to record
what one then observes. At the highest possible speed, without any premeditation,
these utterances would be revealed [by Bahá’u’lláh]. At such a speed that it
would be impossible to conceive any swifter, he [Mirzá Aqá Ján] would write
them down. No one could read that 'Revelation-writing,' with the exception of a
very, very few early believers who had some familiarity with it. Perhaps they
could read some of the verses so recorded - but not the whole. Even Mirzá Aqá Ján, the Revelation scribe
himself, was sometimes unable to read this writing, and he would then take it
to Bahá’u’lláh, and Bahá’u’lláh would solve the problem. (Tarazu’llah
Samandari, ‘Moments with Baha’u’llah’, quoted in ‘Baha’u’llah A Short Biography’,
by Moojan Momen)